A Profound Loss

Thomas F. Laurin, President and Teddi C. Laurin, Chairman/CEO

When Diane M. Laurin, group publisher for Laurin Publishing’s slate of international trade magazines, died unexpectedly at age 57 on Aug. 3, she left a huge void, both professional and personal.

Diane’s goal was to position Laurin Publishing for the 21st century, and one of her many accomplishments was to give the company a new identity: “Photonics Media – The pulse of the industry.” She spearheaded a rebranding and refocusing of the company’s three magazines and of our Web site, Photonics.com, as well as a new online Photonics Directory.

The staff of Photonics Spectra, BioPhotonics and EuroPhotonics considered her both a mentor and a dear friend, and we all will miss her greatly. Diane was brilliant and strong, and one of the most caring, versatile individuals we have ever met. She worked hard to achieve her goals but never forgot to enjoy life’s simple pleasures: a crossword puzzle, a visit to a far-off place, a challenging bike ride, a good book. She took up downhill skiing in the latter part of her life and loved to hit the slopes, and she was an avid hiker, always looking to climb the next peak, and the next, and the next.

She was an enthusiastic champion of biophotonics, which she knew to be a vital driving force in the industry. She observed the innovation under way in the field and the growing market for biotechnology, and she knew we needed to focus on this segment of the industry.

She also firmly believed in the importance of recognizing excellence. To help reinvigorate pride across the photonics industry, she was instrumental in founding the world-class Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation, conceived in partnership with SPIE and awarded for the first time in January 2009.

Diane may no longer be with us, but her spirit is. And that fierce spirit and solid example will help us to continue to grow and prosper in the years to come.